Itinerary
Southern France Gourmet Route.
Price $1,680 CAD* (7-Day excluding transport)

Unpack and stay awhile, we stay at one property for the whole trip (4-Day), so you won't have to spend half your trip packing and unpacking. On the 7-Day Southern France Gourmet Route you experience 3 unique accommodation styles to really get a ‘feel’ for the area.   

We feature a ‘Sample Itinerary’ which offers a suggested culinary program. Modifications to the program are easy enough as we’re flexible. Each outing is of course subject to weather, availability and whether or not it compliments your interests. Rest assured that an exceptional week is planned to highlight the very best of the region. You will enjoy fabulous wine tastings, informative guided tours, and delicious gourmet food.

Day 2 (overnight)

Your day starts off with a delicious French breakfast at your B&B.

Following breakfast depart for the breath-taking Agly Valley where you visit the charming and authentic Mediterranean village of Montner.  Meet your host, Pierre-Louis Marin for your first cooking experience at his famous neo-catalane cuisine restaurant - Auberge du Cellier.   First he will take you to the local market to select the ingredients for your cooking class (approximately 3 hours).  Lunch consists of the dishes you have prepared together with a selection of local wines.

After lunch, depart for Carcasonne where you will be taken on a guided walking tour of the famous Cité de Carcasonne, with free time for shopping.

Dinner at “la Brasserie du Donjon” restaurant where you will have the opportunity to taste the famous French «Cassoulet».

Transfer back and overnight at Domaine du Mas Boluix. 

(B/L/D)

Day 3 (overnight)

After breakfast, depart for Elne, a beautiful town known for its gardens and its imposing Romanesque cathedral.

Then visit Collioure village which is spectacularly curled up between its bell tower and the Royal Castle at the water’s edge.  The village holds many memories of artists such as Matisse, Derain and Dufy.  Take yourself on a walking tour down the lively narrow streets and go back in time – listen to the sounds of the sardane-dances and go forward in time with some shopping.

Continuing along the coast road is Banyuls sur mer, a charming village that gives its name to the wine that comes from the terraced vineyards.

Delicious Catalane cuisine is served for lunch in an authentic Mediterranean style restaurant in Banyuls, La Littorine.

Experience a highly intimate visit to one of the important wine estates of the area.  Go on a walking tour and explore the vineyards with the winemaker who will share some very personal experiences with you.  Taste some outstanding wines from Banyuls and Collioure where the vines plunge down to the sea or climb high up towards the mountains.

At 4.30 PM, you will have your second cooking class at one of the best tables of the rocky coast, Al Fanal. The restaurant is referenced in many French gourmet guides.  (approximately 3 hours).

Dinner of your dishes with select wines from the Vermillion Coast. Transfer back and overnight at Domaine du Mas Boluix. 

(B/L/D)  Photo Hervé Sansun.

Day 4

After breakfast, depart for Cabestany village to visit the famous Romanesque art museum of the Maitre de Cabestany.

Then on the way to the seaside, stop for a visit and taste the fruits of a famous tomato producer in Saint-Nazaire, Patrick Cambres. 

Then visit of the Mas Baux with Marie-Pierre or Serge Baux, one of the most famous wine estates of the area.

Travel to Saint-Cyprien for lunch in the lovely restaurant where authentic cooking uses fresh seasonal produce to produce local flavours.

Transfer to Perpignan Airport or Perpignan Train Station for departure.

(B/L)  Photo Hervé Sansun.

Bon Voyage et Bon Appetit!

Or Choose the...Self Drive

7-day Southern France Gourmet Route.

Day 1(overnight)

 Arrival at Carcassonne Airport or Carcassonne Train

 Station (day 1 afternoon).  Bienvenue.

Check into your deluxe room at your 3-star hotel in the heart of the city of Carcassonne that remains from the middle Ages.

After dinner take a walk around to discover the “old heart of the town” listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

(D)

Day 2 (overnight)

Breakfast is a continental breakfast of croissants, breads, home made marmalade and coffee.

In the morning, you will have more time to explore the Cité.  It’s situated on the right bank of the Aude River on an oppidum (fortified settlement), an area of 3 kilometres of ramparts and 52 towers surround it making it very unique in Europe.

Lunch at your leisure – consult your handy Safari Kit for local restaurant recommendations…it’s an excellent resource to ensure that your gastronomic experience is top notch.

After lunch depart for Minerve fabulous village of the Cathars. Take a self-guided walking tour of 1 ½ hours to explore the museum or the natural ramparts and bridges that were used against its invaders and imagine the times centuries ago.

Then, taste the wines from the well-known Domaine Massamier-la-Mignarde in Pépieux, paired with a gastronomic specialty of the area “la Tapenade d’olives.”  The owners of the wine estate – Mr or Mrs Venes will take you on a one hour walking trip to give you a true sense of the place.  You will notice that much of the historic sense of the estate was kept intact.

Savour a dinner prepared in the traditional way of cooking with local ingredients at a lovely restaurant - Le Mas Vermeil.  . 

Spend tonight in a charming guest room situated in the midst of vineyards on a splendid wine growing estate - Domaine du Mas Boluix.

(B/D)

Day 3 (overnight)

After breakfast, depart for the Castle of Quéribus, dating back to the beginning of the XIth century.  The Castle is perched up high on a rock like "a thimble on a finger" and its amazing silhouette is visible from far around – take in a view of the Mediterranean, the Pyrenées mountains and the Corbières.

Take lunch at your leisure in the authentic village of Cucugnan and then travel along the Valley of Agly with its banks covered with prestigious vineyards.

Meet local winegrowers who will open the doors to their properties during a walking tour around Estagel.  They will share with you all you need to know about their traditional methods of production for their Côtes du Roussillon village wine and other Muscat’s de Rivesaltes varietals.

Visit the famous “Auberge du Cellier” where owner Mr Pierre-Louis Marin, will serve you a delicious, typical Mediterranean dinner. (Or dine at “la Tour des saveurs” Restaurant in Latour de France village.)

After dinner, drive back to Perpignan and overnight at Domaine du Mas Boluix.

(B/D)

Day 4 (overnight)

After breakfast travel to the Côte Vermeille (Rocky Coast); visit Collioure village which is spectacularly curled up between its bell tower and its Royal Castle, both at the Mediterranean Sea’s edge.  Collioure is a town where anchovy fishermen and painters such as Matisse, Derain, Dufy cohabitated.   Take yourself on a walking tour down the lively narrow streets and go back in time – listen to the sounds of the sardane-dances and go forward in time with some shopping and then lunch on your own

Continuing along the roads between vineyards and the Mediterranean Sea, you will suddenly discover the Bay of Banyuls.  Walk through terraced vineyards where rocks melt into the sea with a local wine grower.  You will no doubt appreciate a tasting of the best Banyuls wines after visiting the “Grande cave du Cellier des Templiers” (2½ hours)

Explore the village by yourself – don’t forget to visit the Foundation Maillol, dedicated to Maillol, one of the well-known sculptors of Europe. 

Typical dinner at La Littorine Restaurant on Les Elmes Beach or at Al Fanal Restaurant in Banyuls.

After dinner, drive back to Perpignan and overnight at Domaine du Mas Boluix.

(B/D)   Photo Hervé Sansun.

Day 5 (overnight)

Depart in the morning, the first stop is at the brand new Roman Sculpture Centre in Cabestany.  Drive on to the scenic Les Aspres area, where you will take in rocky vineyards curled up amongst olive trees. Toward the end of the morning you will get to know the different vintages of Côtes du Roussillon at the Domaine Ferrer-Ribière along with tasting of the delicious wines.

Next you arrive in Castelnou village, one of the prettiest mediaeval villages in the Roussillon region of France - “Plus beaux villages de France.”   It was founded in the middle ages.  Once you walk through its fortified gateway there are alleyways lined with XVII Century houses used as artists’ workshops.

Next stop at the stunning Château Valmy, a lovely Castle of the 19th Century situated on a wine growing estate.  Cradled between the sea and mountains, this impressive white château commands and dominates the landscape.  The owner, Mrs Carboneil, will introduce you to the special wine production of the estate, it boasts excellent wines. 

Savour a typical dinner in a lovely restaurant le Mas d’Huston in Saint Cyprien.

After dinner, drive back to Perpignan and overnight at Domaine du Mas Boluix.

(B/D)   Photo Hervé Sansun.

Day 6 (overnight)

Spend the morning discovering the beautiful town of Béziers, then drive to the stunning Fontcaude Abbey.

Continue on to Roquebrun, this village dominates the Orb Valley and the landscape is stunning. Have lunch on your own.

This afternoon explore Roquebrun the “Nice of the Herault area” with an English-speaking guide, then visit the Cellar of Roquebrun.

At 5pm travel to the domaine Moulinier where you will be welcomed by welcomed by the owner, Mr Moulinier.  Tour the property and the wine store house along with wine-tasting of reds, rosés and whites – Carignan/Cinsault/Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre & Syrah – White – Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino. 

Then have dinner at the restaurant Le Pressoir in Saint Chinian.

Settle in to your cozy room at your 4* Mediaeval Castle Château Saint Martin des Champs on a vineyard propriety located near Murviel les Béziers.

(B/D)   Photo Hervé Sansun.

Day 7 (overnight)

After breakfast, experience one of the most ancient vineyards of France that dates back from Antiquity.  Meet the wine-growers of the Crûs Faugères.  Visit one of the most famous wine grower properties of the area – Château de Montpezas.

Lunch on your own (suggestion: Cellier de la Vigneronne at Faugères).

After lunch discover the Château Chenaie at Caussiniojouls including wine tasting.

Then near Roujan visit the Abbey of Cassan, a master piece of classic architecture from the 17th century.

Wander through the streets of Pézenas on the footsteps of Molière.

Enjoy dinner of local typical cuisine at your hotel Château Saint Martin des Champs.

(B/D)

Day 8

Departure.

Travel to Carcassonne Airport or Carcassonne Train Station for departure.

(B)

Bon Voyage et Bon Appetit!